Boss Losa leaves Arsenal

SCOTLAND and Arsenal striker Lisa Evans scored for her country on Tuesday night in a World Cup qualifying win that sent Shelley Kerr’s side to the top of their group.

Albania were bested 5-0 at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, with Evans bagging Scotland’s fifth goal with a header, just eight minutes after coming off the bench.

Afterwards, former Arsenal boss Kerr praised Evans, who had also starred in Scotland’s 2-1 victory over Belarus in Minsk on Thursday.

“Albania were getting tired so putting Lisa on with her pace was going to cause them problems and she was so eager to get on the pitch,” she told the New Journal.

“She worked extremely hard in the Belarus game so we were conscious of that.”

Arsenal defender Emma Mitchell also played her part against Albania, and it was her blistering shot that led to Scotland’s fourth, a poacher’s finish from striker Jane Ross.

But while Evans and Mitchell were celebrating under Scotland head coach Kerr, news broke that their club manager Pedro Martinez Losa was leaving Arsenal.

The 41-year-old Spaniard took over from Kerr when she left the Gunners after winning the FA Women’s Cup in 2014.

He also won the FA Cup, along with the Continental Cup, but failed to win a Women’s Super League.

Lisa Evans came off the bench to score. PHOTO: CATHERINE ETOE

Having added top class talent like UEFA Euro winner Viv­ianne Miedema to the ranks the expectations this season were immense. But with only one win in three so far, Arsenal lie sixth in the WSL.

Summer signing Evans, however, fully believes in her new team-mates. “I regard some of the players at Arsenal as some of the very best in the world right now,” the former German Frauen-Bundesliga forward said on Monday.

“I have been lucky enough to play at really high level clubs – Turbine Potsdam and Bayern Munich – but without a doubt, individual wise, this is one of the talented teams I’ve played for.”

The 25-year-old added that she was loving the competition for places and playing and living “the Arsenal way”.

“It has been a very successful club,” she added. “It’s just about getting back there, getting back in the Champions League and trying to do that again.”

Arsenal confirmed on Wednesday that Losa has left the club.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: “We are grateful for all Pedro’s hard work over the past three seasons.

“He has taken us through a significant period of change and has helped put in the foundations for further success in the future.”

Losa thanked the fans for making him “feel at home”, adding, “It has been an unforgettable three-year journey for me at Arsenal FC.

“I wish to express my gratitude, respect and admiration towards all of the first team and youth players that I was lucky enough to work with during my time at the club.”

Assistant coach Ismael Garcia will take temporary charge before the forthcoming league match at Everton. The club said it hoped to make a full-time appointment soon.